The Wife Campaign Review

The Wife Campaign by Regina Scott is the second book in her Christian historical Master Matchmakers trilogy. We follow Ruby the daughter of a rich jeweller and Whitfield the Earl of Danning. Whit longs for peace and calm and fishing at his country estate, but his valet insists it is time he settle down and marry so he invites Ruby and two other young women and their families for a house party.



I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. This is cute and funny and I could hardly put it down. The characters are a bit heavy in tropes, but it works. Even though they often acted in ways that are highly unrealistic for the time, I was able to look past it and enjoy the story for what it is. Furthermore, I quite enjoyed watching them and felt invested in their experiences pretty quickly.

As for the faith content: I think it is well done. I liked seeing their doubts and their wondering about issues that are relevant to all people even to the present age. Happily, the faith element felt natural and gave depth to the characters and story versus feeling forced in or inauthentic.

Eidolon Review

Eidolon by Grace Draven is the second book in her fantasy Wraith Kings series. It picks up where we left off in the first book and follows the fall out, especially on Ildiko and Brishen. I don’t want to say much more than that so as not to spoil anything from the first book.



I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. I really liked it, which surprised me. At the end of the first book I didn’t like the direction shift that the author made in the plot and so I was thinking that I wouldn’t really enjoy this book. However, she drew me in and I had a wonderful time. Draven’s plot building is strong, even if it takes turns that I didn’t particularly like. I still found it fascinating and gripping to read. I also really like her writing style; something about it just clicks for me.

The characters were the best part. I love how she builds them up and how we can grow with them through their experiences. There is some descriptive sexual content, but just as in the first book, I can respect her use of it as not just in there to be there but shows character growth/ relationship building/ emotional healing.

I am very glad that I gave this one a try despite my misgivings. Now I look forward to the next book in the series and can’t wait for it to come out.

Emptied Review

Emptied: Experiencing the Fullness of a Poured-out Marriage is a Christian non-fiction book on the topic of marriage. Split into three parts: 1- Emptied, 2- Filled, and 3- Guided and Directed.

I gave this book 5 stars. I loved the conversational writing style, and the switch back and forth between who was writing was always smooth and comfortable. The stories were relevant and interesting. I also felt they used scripture well. The “Your Turn” sections at the end of each chapter are thoughtful and helpful. I am not sure the “prayer” sections at the end of the chapters were necessary, but they weren’t problematic either.

I liked that this book addresses not so much things we can/should do or not do but looks at attitudes, perceptions and expectations and compares them to Biblical teaching.  Furthermore, the look at the fruits of the spirit and how they play a role in our marriages was so touching and enlightening. This was a wonderful book for those in any stages of marriage.

Radiance Review

Radiance by Grace Draven is the first book in her fantasy Wraith King Series. This book is about human Ildiko, niece to the king of Gaur, who is arranged to marry 2^nd prince Brishen of the Kai people (non-human race). It follows them as they meet, get married and try to adjust to what that means as well as deal with the tenuous relationship between their two kingdoms and a neighboring kingdom’s response to their marriage.



I gave this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. This was a really fantastic read. I happen to love the arranged marriage trope and Draven took a unique turn with it that I found so much fun. These characters are interesting and witty, and I greatly enjoyed watching them maneuver through their circumstances and grow closer together.

The plot flowed smoothly with a focus on their growing relationship, but with subtle plot building weaved throughout. Their relationship was excellently developed. I really liked where she was taking the story; the building up towards the second book. However, the epilogue destroyed all that build up. I was disappointed with that ending and the new direction the second book looks like it will be taking. And yet I have hope that Draven can still make this series great. 

There was more sexual content than I normally like in books, but I can appreciate that Draven was as descriptive as necessary to accomplish the relational and plot development. The graphic level varied through the story and I could tell when it played a role in furthering the story. It clearly wasn’t just in there to be there.  

There was also a bit of graphic violence in the book. I don’t mind if there is general violence in a story especially if it is important to the plot (as it was here), but I don’t like when it is incredibly detailed (as I have a very active imagination). As with the sexual content, the level of detail varied based on circumstance and necessity to further the plot, but was just a bit more than I was comfortable with.

Overall, I really did love this book and feel it could have been a 5-star read. I don’t regret reading it and I do plan on continuing with the next book in the series.

The Life Giving Table Review

The Life-Giving Table by Sally Clarkson is a Christian non-fiction book dealing with the importance of table culture for singles, families and in relation to hospitality and discipleship purposes.



I gave this book 3 out of 5 stars. It is very conversational and filled with examples or stories. I find the writing style very approachable and easy to follow. Even though the main topic is supposed to be ‘the table’ I felt it could also strongly be ‘parenting’. There is nothing wrong with that, but I would have liked to see a bit more table talk for people in differing seasons of life. Or perhaps it is that I would have liked her to address the differences of our table ministry in differing seasons.   

I did really enjoy the recipes at the end of each chapter. Some of them don’t work for me, as the ingredients aren’t available where I live, but many do, and I will enjoy trying them.

There are some wonderful tips and ideas in here to apply with children as well as tips for hospitality, discipleship and evangelism. I really appreciated them, but it is not my season of life. My oldest is 5 so just entering the stage to use these ideas, but my others are still learning to talk (or just starting to say words at all) and mealtime is filled with helping the little ones. Just like Clarkson’s book Life-Giving Home, I feel this book is better for people who don’t have children yet or have all older children. Perhaps I will come back to this book in a couple years.

Fairest Review

Fairest by Gail Carson Levine is a spin-off book from Ella Enchanted and a retelling of Snow White. We follow Aza an Ayorthian girl with the fairest voice in the kingdom but considered all around ugly. Circumstances lead her to the castle and becoming lady-in-waiting to the new queen, thus begins her adventures.



I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. This was such a fun read. I really like retellings and Levine has a way of putting her own spin on the story and bringing it to life. This one was quite a twist on the original and I found that fascinating. The plot was fast paced, and I flew through the book. My only disappointment was that there were questions I expected to get answered during the story that didn’t.

Aza, the queen, and one other character are multi-dimensional and interesting. There was some good character development with them. But most of the characters we don’t really get to know beyond surface level. It would particularly have made the love story more believable if the prince had more depth, as it was, he fell rather flat. Overall, the story would have felt more believable with all around more character depth and development.

I did enjoy this book and feel that if I had read it when I was a kid, I may have loved it. As an adult it was entertaining and fun but lacking a bit in quality.

The Earl's Honorable Intentions

The Earl’s Honorable Intentions by Deborah Hale is the 3^rd book in her “Glass Slippers” Christian historical fiction series. In this book we follow Hannah the governess of 3 young children who is trying to convince their military father and new widower, Gavin, to see his duty to his children should be his priority. 



I gave this book 3.5 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed the writing style and how quick a read this was. Hale has a way of crafting a story to flow smoothly to get and keep the attention. Her characters in this one aren’t as well developed as in some of her other works, but they are still fairly strong. Furthermore, she does such a good job at bringing us to a satisfying ending.

My biggest frustration with this book is how she handles the theme “fear of failure”. In some ways she does it right, at least in showing character growth in this area; however, she leaves what I consider to be the most important issue unaddressed. When discussing one’s fear of failure you can’t leave out that one of the biggest sources of this fear is the determination to do it “in one’s own strength” and how we must learn to turn to God, trust in His strength and His plan. Hale didn’t even touch on this, even though it was obvious that both of the main characters had decided what they thought was the right thing to do and were determined to bring it about all on their own for at least the first half of the book.

Overall, it was still a nice and enjoyable read if a bit disappointing.

February Overview

Classics:

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell

The Story Girl by L M Montgomery



Poetry:

The Christian Book of Mystical Verse Edited by A W Tozer 

Travelling Light by Vickie Johnstone



Christian Non-fiction:

Humble Roots by Hannah Anderson



Christian Fiction:

The Earl’s Honorable Intentions by Deborah Hale (historical)

How to Catch a Prince by Rachel Hauck (contemporary)

The Long Road Home by Lori Wick (historical)



General Fiction:

Kissing Tolstoy by Penny Reid (adult contemporary)

Kissing Galileo by Penny Reid (adult contemporary)

Hooked by Elizabeth Hunter (adult contemporary)

Teacher’s Pet Wolf by Kati Wilde (adult paranormal)

Wicked Bite by Jeaniene Frost (adult paranormal)

Nights Darkest Embrace by Jeaniene Frost (adult fantasy)

Happily Never After by Jeaniene Frost (adult paranormal)

Devil to Pay by Jeaniene Frost (adult paranormal)

Home for the Holidays by Jeaniene Frost (adult paranormal)

Protecting the Wolf’s Mate by Sasha Summers (adult paranormal)

Bound to the Bear by Kathy Lyons (adult paranormal)

When an Alpha Purrs by Eve Langlais (adult paranormal)

Biting Bad by Chloe Niell (adult paranormal)

Wild Things by Chloe Niell (adult paranormal)

Blood Games by Chloe Niell (adult paranormal)

Dark Debt by Chloe Niell (adult paranormal)

Midnight Marked by Chloe Niell (adult paranormal)

Blade Bound by Chloe Niell (adult paranormal)

The Witches by Roald Dalh (children’s fantasy)

When a Scott Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare (adult historical)